OT: Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2012

Winery: Ramón Bilbao Vinos y Viñedos. Avda. Santo Domingo 34, 26220, Haro. La Rioja (España – Spain). The winery was founded in 1924; however, around 1896 Don Ramón Bilbao Murga had already sold their wines to a winery that was located on a street in Las Cuevas, Haro. In 1972, a few years after the death of the last descents of the Bilbao family, the winery was placed in the hands of the Lecanda family, founders of the legendary Vega Sicilia winery in Ribera del Duero, where they built new facilities, and thereby expanded their brand and focused on the production of crianza wines. In 1999 when the company Diego Zamora S.A., one of the most important groups of drinks in Spain, acquired Bodegas Ramón Bilbao, they began a process of modernisation and upgrading the facilities, which marked a new step and a big boost to the brand, achieving great recognition from the customers.

Phone: +34 941 310 295

Winemaker: Rodolfo Bastida

Website: www.ramonbilbao.es 

Brand: Ramón Bilbao Crianza

DO: DOC Rioja

Type: Red Crianza wine. After fermentation at controlled temperatures, the wine was aged for 14 months in American oak casks. This was followed by another 8 months in our underground bottle racks. 

Vintage:  2012

Alcohol: 13.5%

Grape Variety: 100% Tempranillo 

Vineyards: Ramón Bilbao has a significant production from its own vineyards (75 hectares in Haro, Briones, Abalos, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Cihuri, Anguciana and Cuzcurrrita del Río Tirón) as well as that of vineyards under its control, owned by grape growers from the area with whom it has been working for many years.

Soil Type: The soil is sandstone above the river (Ebro) and sedimentary, sandy soil close to the river.

Bottle Size: 75.0 cl.

Price: Available at most supermarket chains at around 7.00 €, sometimes slightly below.  

My wine rating: 88/100 (A wine of good quality) NEW!

Ramón Bilbao Crianza is a classic Rioja wine made by Bodegas Ramon Bilbao, a winery that has more than a century of history. It was founded in 1924 by Don Ramón Bilbao Murga, although since 1896, Don Ramón ran a small winery in Haro selling his first wines. Ramón Bilbao Crianza is a varietal wine made from Tempranillo grapes, a typical variety of La Rioja, from various fields. The grapes are harvested at their peak of ripeness by being monitored, which takes place throughout the cycle. The grapes are destemmed and each plot is fermented separately at a controlled temperature of 28-29ºC. The wine is run off quickly once the desired colour is achieved. Ramón Bilbao Crianza is aged for 14-months in American oak barrels. Once it has finished aging, it spends 8 months in bottle before going to market. Ramón Bilbao Crianza is a classic of La Rioja. Fruity, balanced and perfectly tuned due to the work done with the oak barrels. (Source: Decántalo)

“I found the average quality of the Ramon Bilbao quite impressive, especially for the volumes they produce (4 million bottles). The wines are well-crafted, clean, accessible, sensibly priced and true to their origins. No wonder they are very popular on the local market. I’m very happy to see the quality going up and would like to congratulate winemaker Rodolfo Bastida for such a good job”. (Robert Parker)

A good example that it’s not necessary to spend a fortune for enjoying a good Rioja crianza wine, that is easy to find.